Synopsis:

Lady Shona, the newly crowned queen of the realm, is a leader without a throne. Pursued relentlessly by a dark force, her small contingent of loyal followers must make a difficult choice--flee or fight. Determined to save her land from nefarious threats, Lady Shona decides that she must seek out the enemy and attack them head on--a strategy that leads back to the region of the Three Valleys where Hyam was born.

Alas, Hyam has been struck by a mysterious illness that is silently sweeping through the realm. Known as the wasting disease, the sickness has no cure. But there is one shred of hope for Lady Shona and the realm--and it comes in the most unlikely of forms. A young orphan, untested and untrained, could well mean the difference between victory and total defeat.

Thomas Locke concludes his epic trilogy with a gripping tale of courage that will inspire readers to persevere even when all seems lost.

I would like to thank Netgalley, Revell for giving me this copy of the book. This gift did not influence my opinion or review.

This was my favorite book of the trilogy and had my favorite characters, Dally and Connell.

Dally has a way of communicating with the wolfhounds that her master, the Mayor raises. She also has giftings of magery and “seeing” that have been hidden to those around her. The villagers have always shunned and feared her. Never having seen herself in a mirror and only judging her appearance by the reactions of those around her, she assumes she is homely. Her humility and yet willingness to do whatever she needs to is endearing.

I was captivated by Connell in his cameo in The Merchant of Alyss and had high hopes that he would return. He is a master mage and a favorite instructor among the apprentices. In The Golden Vial, he is a pillar of strength despite the queen passing him over for a great role in the Realm.

The chief wizard of Emporis was tall and handsome, with the clear blue eyes of a midsummer dawn. He wore his blond hair standing straight up, like a yellow brush. His blond goatee ended in a woven strand as long as his thumb. He did his best to provoke—outrage, humor, attraction—any response would do, Hyam suspected, so long as it was robust. Connell was everything Hyam was not and never would be. Hyam already liked the young man immensely.

From The Merchant of Alyss

While I normally don’t like to read stories that contain witches (shudder!), the ones in this story are more sirens than typical Halloween witches, and though they are by no means nice, it didn’t bother me that they made an appearance.

There were a myriad of creatures I’ve never heard of before, and each one was creatively described in such a way that I could picture it well. Despite the fact that there was a full cast of important characters to keep track of, they were introduced in such a way that when they appeared later, I was not too overwhelmed to be able to know who each one was.

Though the description of this book declares it to be the last of the trilogy, there is unfinished business and hints of more to come. According to author Thomas Locke’s blog, there is a possibility of this series becoming a major motion picture, and if so, there could be more to the stories. I can only hope that is the case.

Synopsis:

Hyam is a likeable lad who will make a fine farmer someday. But he carries a burden few can fathom. As his mother slips toward death, she implores him to return to Long Hall, where he spent five years as an apprentice. It was there that Hyam's extraordinary capacity for mastering languages came to light--and soon cast him into the shadows of suspicion. How could any human learn the forbidden tongues with such ease? When Hyam dares to seek out the Mistress of the Sorceries, her revelation tears his world asunder.

He has no choice but to set out on the foreboding path--which beckons him to either his destiny or his doom. An encounter with an enchanting stranger reminds him that he is part hero and part captive. As Hyam struggles to interpret the omens and symbols, he is swept up by a great current of possibilities--and dangers.

Synopsis:

Life for Hyam is bittersweet. Admired by the citizens of Falmouth for his heroic rescue mission, he cherishes these peaceful days with Joelle by his side. Yet grief over the loss of his magical skills during the great Battle of Emporis threatens to engulf him. Sometimes he even wishes he had never known magic at all.

When Hyam comes into possession of an ancient Milantian scroll, he is thrilled to feel the surge of power that courses through him whenever he touches it. But what he discerns in the text could mean war. He embarks upon another journey to determine its true meaning and forestall any attack. But as Hyam is seeking answers, he is unaware that the merchant of Alyss is seeking him . . .